The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), of which we are a parish, is a mainly autonomous global Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in lands outside of Russia, based in New York City since World War II. ROCOR was founded in 1920 by exiles from the Christ-persecuting Bolshevist regime during the Russian Civil War, under the blessing of Patriarch-Saint Tikhon the Confessor. Our Synod has been based in the U.S. since 1950, when Communist rule had been extended to Serbia, where ROCOR previously was headquartered. In 2007, with the renewal of Orthodox Christianity in Russia following the fall of Communism, we came back into communion with the Patriarch of Moscow, of which Patriarch Krill is currently head. In the One Holy and Catholic Apostolic Church of Orthodox Christianity, the Patriarchate is a direct link back to the early Church of Byzantium and the Holy Land, from which the Russian Church was founded. Today we commemorate Patriarch Kirill as head of the Russian Orthodox Church along with our own First Hierarch of the ROCOR Synod. From that apostolic line of Bishops unbroken back to Apostolic times, our parish clergy are ordained. Glory to God!
Metropolitan Nicholas, a native of New Jersey, and a graduate of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, was for years cell attendant to Metropolitan Laurus, former First Hierarch of ROCOR. As a deacon based at Jordanville, he accompanied Metropolitan Laurus to events marking restoration of communion between ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate, ending the division begun in the Bolshevik era. After his spouse reposed in the Lord, he became caretaker of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, and accompanied the icon on travels to Churches and Monasteries around the world. In 2014 he was elected Bishop of Manhattan and was tonsured a monk and made an archimandrite. In 2022 he became Head of the Chancery of the Primate of ROCOR, and later that year was elected First Hierarch to succeed the reposed Metropolitan Hilarion of blessed memory.
Fr. George Sharonoff (Rector)
Fr. George, our Rector, is a graduate of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary (B.A. and M.Div.) and served as Deacon and Subdeacon previously at our mission. He was ordained to the priesthood on Sept. 2/Sept. 15 7528 (2019) at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, by Bishop Luke. Fr. George is descended from White Army exiles from Communism in the post-Revolution Russian emigre community of Harbin in China. He grew up in Russian-American communities in northern California, including on the Russian River. His Matushka, Anna Sharonoff, is a professional musician who helps develop our mission's choir.
Fr. Paul Siewers
Father Paul Siewers, Ph.D. was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Luke of Holy Trinity Monastery, in 2023. Before that, he had been mission Deacon since 2020, and earlier Reader and then Subdeacon, and founding Warden. He is a graduate of the St. John of Kronstadt Pastoral School of the ROCOR Archdiocese of Chicago. Former Urban Affairs writer for the Chicago Sun-Times, he is faculty adviser to the Orthodox Christian community at Bucknell University, where he also is Associate Professor of Literature and teaches and publishes on topics related to Christian literature. He facilitates the Orthodox community Bible study in Lewisburg. He lives with his wife Matushka Olga and their sons in Lewisburg, and blogs at ecosemiotics.com.
Phone: (570)863-9039
Email: frpauls@pm.me
Heiromonk Claude Vinyard (Retired)
Our Rector Emeritus, Heiromonk Claude Vinyard is a long-time Orthodox priest, who, prior to becoming founding pastor of our mission, served a number of historic Orthodox parishes in Pennsylvania's coal region and elsewhere, including parishes in Mount Carmel and Centralia. His involvement in the parish renewal effort at Christ the Savior Church in Sugar Notch, PA, led directly to establishment of the mission in Lewisburg. A native of Flint, MI, he is a graduate of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary, a former railroad conductor, U.S. Navy veteran, and former VA Hospital Chaplain. In honor of service to the Russian Orthodox Church he is blessed to wear a double Cross.
